NISC is all about its members
Karen McAllister enjoys her work at National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) because of the members and the satisfaction of helping them meet their needs. As an account manager, she serves the entire state of Minnesota, focusing on public power entities, advocating for them, and supporting their requirements, from data protection to online billing. With more than 25 years of experience in the utility sector, Karen plays a key role in NISC's support of some 800 cooperatives and 200 municipalities.
Karen began her career in the utility sector, spending 18 years at Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative. What drew her to NISC was its non-profit status and strong focus on serving members. For Karen, it was the ideal combination of staying in the utility field while working directly with and understanding member needs.
Currently, Karen serves seven municipalities in Minnesota, assisting them in using the full range of NISC's enterprise software and helping these members succeed in the long term. She explains that the biggest benefit of NISC is its comprehensive suite of products, which include customer care, billing systems, mapping, and staking.
Founded in the 1960s, NISC has a rich history. Karen emphasizes the importance of keeping members informed about the latest technologies to enhance their experience. The organization dedicates more than $55 million annually to research and development, aiming to better understand the evolving challenges faced by customers and municipal utilities in today's utility landscape.
NISC offers a range of services aimed at enhancing municipal operations. Customers can access billing and service management through an online portal that allows payments and service sign-ups. The company also provides messenger services, enabling municipalities to communicate with residents via text, email, or broadcast messages.
Financial management is another key area for NISC, with solutions supporting human resources and comprehensive financial oversight, including the allocation of water and sewer bills among multiple entities. Meter data management systems are available for water, gas, and electric meters, displaying readings on the online portal and integrating seamlessly with customer care and billing systems.
Operational tools include mapping, staking, and analytics that help identify issues such as overloaded lines. A work management system lets field personnel view jobs and work orders on tablets or handheld devices. For marketing, NISC offers targeted solutions to reach specific customer groups. Additional services encompass bill printing, cybersecurity, and technical support, including secure data storage options designed to meet the diverse needs of municipal departments.
Karen emphasizes the big picture of all NISC’s offerings: “They all integrate, and that's what I've heard from my municipal members is the biggest value that we've brought to them is the ability to integrate their entire process across all the municipal needs.”
Karen has attended the MMUA Summer Conference for the past four years and finds it a valuable opportunity to connect with her members. Although she wasn’t able to join the group in Rochester this year, she is impressed by how much the Conference has grown and wishes she could have been there to talk with members.
Karen believes that NISC isn’t just a vendor, but a partner to Minnesota municipal utilities. “We partner with our members to bring them services. We truly are a partner. We listen to their needs, we try to develop things to help them with their business and help them be successful,” Karen says.